Town of High River

This mural depicts an early small town scene. Excursions to town were few and far between for homesteaders and ranching families. The arrival of the supply train provided an opportunity for people to socialize and get caught up on the latest news.

Artist: Terry Gregoraschuk, 1991-92

The first mural (facing east) features squadron leader ‘Ack Ack Leitch’ one of Canada’s outstanding aviators and a long-time resident of High River. He was awarded both the Military Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was stationed in High River at the Air Station and was later promoted to Officer Commanding. The parachutists are Flight Lieutenant Carter, M.M. seen
making the first local jump at the High River Air Station in 1926, and stunt man Roy Lomheim demonstrating his free-fall dive to students from the No. 5 Elementary Flying Training School in the 1940s. The south-facing mural shows an inspection at the No. 5 E.F.T.S. which operated on the former High River
Air Station site from 1941 to 1944. The west-facing mural depicts an aerial fire patrol carried out by members of the Canadian Air Force who manned the High River Air Station, which opened in 1921. Carrier pigeons were used until ground to air communications were established.

Artist: Doug Dreidiger, 1992-94

Marie Meyer Davis was a trained nurse who lived and worked in the High River area from 1903 to 1939. She was an invaluable assistant to pioneer doctor Dr. G.D. Stanley, and accompanied him to many out-of-town cases, often driving
the horse-drawn vehicle while he slept. During the 1918 influenza epidemic, when the doctor was too busy to make all the calls, she often worked alone.This mural was a joint legacy project between the 1996 High River Science Festival
Committee and Science Alberta, and is a reminder of the significant contribution science makes to our everyday lives

High River native Joe Clark was Canada’s 16th and, at age 39, youngest Prime Minister. His family has deep roots in High River, where his Grandfather Charles Clark Sr. started the High River Times in 1905. His father Charles Clark Jr. then operated the Times from 1949 until he sold it in 1966 when Joe and his brother Peter decided to pursue other careers.

W.O. (Bill) Mitchell is one of Canada’s best-loved writers. His works include such Canadian classics as Who Has Seen the Wind and Jake and the Kid. Bill, his wife Merna, and their family lived in High River from 1944 to 1968 (except for three years when he was fiction editor at Macleans). Bill taught English, Social Studies and Drama at High River High School. Stories of Bill’s exploits in High River abound and he is fondly remembered by many locals. In later years, he and Merna lived mainly in Calgary, but they chose the High River Cemetery as
their final resting place.

Artist: J.M Compton, 1994

In the late 1800s, many whiskey traders from south of the border came to southern Alberta and set up trading forts where they exchanged liquor, arms, and ammunition for furs and buffalo hides. There were several forts on the Sheep and Highwood Rivers, but the largest was Fort Spitzee. There were at least two other posts also known as ‘Spitzee’. These posts proved to be disastrous for the
First Nations people. In 1874, the North West Mounted Police were sent west by the Canadian government to put an end to the whiskey trade. Traders heard of their arrival, and abandoned the forts – often burning them to the ground as they left. Kneeling in the foreground is Jerry Potts, who was a guide for the NWMP.

Artist: Terry Winter, 1992

The Old Women’s buffalo jump ( “Old” refers to the age
of the jump) is located 13 km south of High River. It was
discovered during a flash flood in 1952. Excavations in 1958/59 revealed bones and artifacts over 2000 years
old. Before the Plains tribes had horses and guns, they
would run herds of buffalo off steep cliffs. Warriors
would wait below with arrows, knives and clubs to kill
any animals which survived the fall.

Artist: Steve Jones, 1990